The Daily Drinker: Following Meriwether Distilling Company's Journey from Grain to Bottle

Category Archives: 12 Days of Speakeasy

“Ho, ho, the mistletoe, hung where you can see. Somebody waits for you, kiss her once for me.”
With the hot sun safely tucked below the northern hemisphere, Christmas time is the hour of the Ginger. Only now will your favorite redhead begin shedding her habitual layers of SPF. Like most Gingers one might find under the mistletoe, this holiday cocktail is a little tart and a slightly sweet. So pucker up buttercup, or someone else may slide in and steal your Ginger Kiss. Cheers!

When was the last time you ordered a Sea Breeze? It’s a delicious cocktail with a terrible name. Something about it conjures up images of blue haired ladies, lounging in Boca Raton, ordering one too many Sea Breezes from that extremely patient cabana boy they’ve been flirting with all day. It’s a bit awkward. which is the same way I feel when I order one, kind of awkward.

Here’s a holiday twist on the original. Hopefully this namesake evokes images of Santa’s sleight ride instead of his retirement plans.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love poured for me a:

Holiday Breeze

2 ounces Speakeasy vodka

3 ounces fresh grapefruit juice

1 1/2 ounces pomegranate juice

Place ice in a rocks glass. Add all of the ingredients and stir. Serves one.

It’s the end of the world as we know it? According to the Mayans it might be. If 12/21/12 really is our last day on earth, we’ll probably need a few of these. Waking up hung over sure beats not waking up at all. Here’s to making it to Saturday brunch.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love poured for me a:

Kamakazi

2 ounces Speakeasy vodka

1 ounce Cointreau

The juice of ½ a lime

Add all of the ingredients into shaker full of ice. Shake vigorously and pour. Makes 2 shots. Clink, drink, repeat.

The holiday season is filled with parties. Inevitably, at any gathering there will be friends or family with limited cocktail knowledge. Urge them to take advantage of the open bar and order this simple concoction. It’s sure to please even the novice cocktail connoisseur.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love poured for me a:

Cosmopolitan

2 ounces Speakeasy vodka 1 ounce Cointreau1 ounce 100% cranberry juice The juice of 1/2 lime
Add of the ingredients into a shaker full of ice and shake vigorously. Strain and serve up. Garnish with a citrus peel.

Barware is one of my favorite things. Anytime I’m in a housewares store, I inevitably linger the longest in this section. There’s something very satisfying about having the ideal glass for every drink on any occasion.

This summer I was lucky enough to inherit a set of solid silver cups (with matching ice bucket.) Visually, they are a unique addition to my barware collection. Functionally, they actually insulate your cocktail and keep it cool. Win, win. Drinking hasn’t been this awesome since Mad Men.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love poured for me a:

Moscow Mule

2 ounces Speakeasy vodka

2 1/2 ounces Ginger Beer

The juice of 1/2 a lime

Add lime juice and vodka to a shaker full of ice and stir. Pour mixture into a copper mug* and serve over ice. Top up with ginger beer. Garnish with a few mint leaves and a slice of lime. Serves one.

*The Moscow Mule is traditionally served in a copper mug. If you don’t have one on hand, we suggest a Collins glass.

Being a grown up is awesome. No bedtime, the option of having dessert before dinner, getting to saying things like “beer me”. Adult activities really are the best activities. The only downside is those damn bills. To keep them from piling up you most likely work Monday through Friday, and by the time five o’clock rolls around you could probably use a drink. It’s Monday, so make it a strong one. We both know you’ve earned it.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love poured for me a:

Vodka Gibson Martini

3 ounces Speakeasy vodka

Cocktail onions to garnish

Pour Speakeasy vodka into a shaker full of ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with picked onions and enjoy. Serves one.

Sunday Funday… It’s an epic day filled with football, gambling, and chicken wings. But before you double down on Saturday’s nonsense, a little hair of the dog might be in order. If the Super Mimosa isn’t your rally style, or you drank all the bubbly yesterday, our Bloody Mary recipe will get you back to fine form in no time. Make mom proud, there’s (probably) a full serving of vegetables in every glass!

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love poured for me a:

Bloody Buddy

4 ounces Speakeasy vodka

6 ounces tomato juice

1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon Sriracha HOT chili sauce

1/2 teaspoon Beaver brand Extra Hot Horseradish

A dash Crystal Louisiana style hot sauce

A dash Tabasco sauce

1 lime wedge

1 lemon wedge

Salt and pepper to taste

Garnish to your liking. We suggest a celery stick, a lime wedge, and various pickled vegetables (thanks Linds and Curtis!)

Weekends are something to cherish, so we advocate making the most of them. This Saturday, avoid the mall. Nobody needs that kind of stress. Keep those sweats on a bit longer and pour yourself a morning cocktail. Once that bottle of bubbly is gone, it will probably be time for a nap. When a standard Mimosa just won’t cut it, we highly recommend this supercharged libation:

On the third day of Christmas my true love poured for me a:

Super Mimosa

1 ounce Speakeasy vodka

2-3 ounces bubbly (depending on glass size)

2 ounces orange juice

Pour the vodka, followed by the bubbly into a glass. Top off with the juice of your choice. Toast, clink, drink! Repeat.